WEST PORTSMOUTH - If the offense doesn't work, make sure the defense does.

It did.

The Green Bobcats overcame a cold shooting performance by utilizing a stingy defense to beat the Portsmouth West Senators 50-32 Saturday night.

Green was just 16 of 58 from the field for 27.6 percent and converted only 14 of 31 free throw attempts.

"We shot poorly from the field and the foul line and we still won. That speaks well for our defensive effort," Green coach Kevin Lewis said.

Brian Ramey led Green with 14 points. Aaron Patten had 11 points and Derek Lewis added eight points and five assists. Timmy Yarnell pulled down 14 rebounds and Kenny Elrod six.

Lewis said balance was the key for the offense on its off-night.

"We got a little more balance in our scoring," Lewis said. "Brian Ramey, Ryan Klaiber and Kenny Elrod came in and got 28 points between them. I was very pleased with their play."

Ramey had six points in the first quarter as Green went in front 14-6. The lead was 21-12 at halftime.

Ramey and Derek Lewis combined for 11 points in the third quarter, but Nathan Distol had six points as West cut a point off the Bobcat lead to 35-27.

But Patten came alive in the fourth quarter with six points and the defense held West to just five points as Green won going away.

The loss snapped a five-game losing streak and gave Green a 2-5 record.

"The kids are working hard. They needed the win. We'll take this and hope we can build on it," Lewis said.

Distol had 10 points to pace the winless Senators.

Green1471415-50

Prt. West66155-32

GREEN (2-5):

Aaron Patten 2 0 7-9 11, Timmy Yarnell 1 0 1-6 3, Jason Bester 0 0 0-0 0, Derek Lewis 0 2 2-2 8, Brian Ramey 3 2 2-6 14, Ryan Klaiber 3 0 1-2 7, Ryan Bloomfield 0 0 0-0 0, Adam Sparks 0 0 0-0 0, John Dawson 0 0 0-0 0, Kenny Elrod 3 0 1-2 7. Totals: 16-58

(4)

14-31

50. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 43 (Yarnell 14, Elrod 6). Turnovers: 13. Assists: 9 (Lewis 5).

PORTSMOUTH WEST (0-6):

Nathan Distol 4 0 2-2 10, Tommy Austin 2 0 3-5 7, Jarrod Sowards 1 0 1-4 3, Matt Alexander 0 0 2-4 2, Clark Distol 1 0 2-2 4, Josh Simpson 0 0 2-2 2, Kyle Hoffstetter 0 0 0-2 0, John Monroe 2 0 1-2 5, Josh Van Gundy 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 10

(0)

12-23

32. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Austin.